View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerTeammates check on quarterback Colt McCoy on Thursday in Pittsburgh after he was hit helmet-to-helmet by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. McCoy left the game but went back in moments later after Browns officials said he showed no signs of a concussion.

BEREA, Ohio — Browns quarterback Colt McCoy suffered a concussion on the helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison on Thursday night, but Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he sent him back into the game because he showed no concussion symptoms during a sideline exam.

"If he would have shown symptoms of a concussion, then I wouldn't have put him back in the game, absolutely not," said Shurmur, who goes by the decision of the medical staff. "We go through the strict protocol to evaluate whether there are concussionlike symptoms."

McCoy's father, Brad McCoy, told The Plain Dealer on Friday that his son didn't remember anything after the hit, including the interception in the end zone that could've been the game winner in the 14-3 loss.

"He never should've gone back in the game," Brad McCoy said. "He was basically out [cold] after the hit. You could tell by the rigidity of his body as he was laying there. There were a lot of easy symptoms that should've told them he had a concussion. He was nauseated and he didn't know who he was."

But Shurmur said the symptoms didn't surface until sometime after the game. He said McCoy told him on the sidelines that he was ready to go.

"When we were leaving the locker room is when I was made aware of it," Shurmur said. "I'm usually the last one to leave."

By then, McCoy had told reporters at his locker that he didn't remember the helmet-to-facemask smash. One reporter asked him at his locker if he was OK, and he said, "I don't know. I don't know. I think I am."

A few minutes later, McCoy was taken to the interview room, and TV cameramen were asked by a member of the public-relations staff not to use their lights. Reporters were also asked to keep the session brief.

But McCoy seemed coherent in answering questions and accurately described the interception. By the time the team arrived in Berea -- about 2 a.m. -- McCoy was woozy enough that teammate Evan Moore had to drive him home. By Friday morning, he drove himself to the Berea facility for further exams and was diagnosed with a concussion. By then, he couldn't remember much about the end of the game.

Brad McCoy said Colt felt like he had let his team down, but he couldn't recall quite how.

"I think these concussions or concussionlike symptoms -- they're different," Shurmur said. "It could happen immediately, it could happen in hours, it could be a day later."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Plain Dealer in an email response that "we will discuss it with the team" to see if the Browns violated the stringent NFL concussion guidelines. Players must meet certain requirements before they can go back in the game. Aiello also said he wouldn't speculate on possible sanctions for the Browns if they violated the rules.

Brad McCoy, a lifelong high school football coach who coached Colt in junior high and high school, was upset that the Browns didn't spend more time trying to evaluate whether McCoy was concussed. The actual time from the hit until McCoy trotted back out onto the field was three minutes, 50 seconds, including the several minutes he spent down on the field.

"Colt takes a severe hit like that, and he's back in the game [two plays] play later?" Brad McCoy asked. "If he took another blow to the head, we could've been talking about his career here."

Brad McCoy said when he first saw the hit, he thought Colt was done for the night. McCoy suffered a serious concussion in high school that kept him out of several games.

"I certainly didn't think he'd be out only [two plays],"' he said. "It would've taken my high school trainer longer than that to determine if he was OK after a hit like that."

Thursday's hit was delivered by the same player that knocked receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs out of a game last October with concussions. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi, which was later reduced to $50,000.

In the case of McCoy, Harrison drilled him in the facemask with his helmet, and McCoy went flying backward to the ground. He remained on his back for a few minutes while the medical staff tended to him. He was then helped off the field and went to the sidelines, where he remained for the two plays, which lasted about 80 seconds. He also suffered a bruise to his left hand on the play.

When he returned to the game, he ran two plays before the costly interception. On the ensuing drive, he threw two more apparent picks, but one was reversed by replay and the other was wiped out by a penalty. Brad McCoy said he was upset that the Browns said McCoy "was fine" after the game when he apparently wasn't.

Shurmur said he can understand Brad McCoy's feelings.

"I'm the father of a son who plays quarterback [freshman at St. Edward]," Shurmur said. "I wouldn't put my son in harm's way if he was showing those symptoms. I understand that. As far as us evaluating him, we didn't see that. I understand the thoughts. I understand it extremely well. The McCoys are terrific people who love their son and want the best for him. I get that."

He said that, at some point, he would reach out to Brad McCoy.

"I can assure everyone that we followed the protocol," he said. "At one point during the game, I told Colt, 'I talk to you like I talk to my son.' In fact, I said that. I have a lot of compassion for our players."

Cleveland Browns News and Notes following loss to SteelersCleveland Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur talked with the media in Berea after their 14 - 3 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Colt McCoy is being evaluated for post-game concussion like symptoms after a helmet to helmet hit by James Harrison. Hosted by Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.

Earlier in the game, the Browns followed protocol with tight end Ben Watson and fullback Owen Marecic and shut them down after concussions.

The Browns' medical staff has been repeatedly praised by players such as linebacker Scott Fujita, Watson and Massaquoi throughout the season for how their concussions have been handled.

"They're very professional, high-class people that do things the right way, and that's why I trust them," Shurmur said.

Regarding the hit by Harrison, Shurmur said, "I have some strong feelings about that that I'm not going to share."

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